Podcasts about revive us again

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Who Does He Think He's Eating With? Today's message comes from Matthew chapter 9, verses 9 through 13. The title is "Who Does He Think He's Eating With?" — and honestly, that is the question that hangs in the air the moment Jesus sits down at a dinner table with a tax collector and a bunch of sinners. The religious leaders were scandalized. The neighbors were whispering. And Jesus? He just kept passing the bread. Here's what we're going to explore today: Why did Jesus call Matthew — a man most people despised — to follow Him? Why did Jesus deliberately go to a party filled with the wrong kind of people? And what does all of that have to say to us, right here, right now? In this message, we're going to look at three powerful truths that come out of this passage.  1.     First, that Jesus sees people everyone else has written off.  2.     Second, that Jesus pursues the broken, not the polished.  3.     And third, that following Jesus means going where He goes — even when it makes us uncomfortable. These are not soft, easy ideas. They are challenging. They push back against our natural tendency to stay comfortable, to sit with people just like us, and to keep our faith nice and tidy. But the gospel has never been neat. It has always been scandalous, beautiful grace. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Waiting On God With Whole Heart! Today's message comes from one of the most beloved poems ever written — Psalm 8. And I want you to hold on to that word: poem. Because that's what this is. King David didn't sit down with a theology textbook when he wrote Psalm 8. He stepped outside under the vast, star-splashed sky of the ancient Near East, and something deep inside him stirred. He looked up — and then he looked inward — and the result was this breathtaking song that asks one of the most honest questions any human being has ever asked: "What is man, that You take thought of him?" That question is just as alive today as it was three thousand years ago. In a world that sometimes tells you that you don't matter, that you're just a number, just a body, just a brief flash of existence in an indifferent universe — Psalm 8 thunders back with a different answer. A better answer. A truer answer. And it begins and ends not with us, but with God — with His majestic name, His sovereign glory, and His astonishing grace toward people like you and me. Here's what you can expect in today's message: We're going to walk through Psalm 8 carefully and prayerfully. We'll look at where this psalm came from, what it meant to its original audience, and why it matters enormously for how we live on a Tuesday in rural Minnesota. We'll talk about what it means that God's glory fills creation, why human dignity is not something we earn but something God gave, and how Jesus Christ Himself is the final and fullest answer to the question David asked. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Waiting On God With Whole Heart! Today we're opening up Psalm 25, and I want to tell you right up front — this is one of those passages that feels like it was written yesterday. David wrote this psalm at a time when he was surrounded by enemies, weighed down by his own sin, and genuinely unsure which way to turn. And yet, instead of running away from God, he ran toward Him. He lifted his soul up like an open hand and said, "Lord, I'm trusting You. Teach me. Lead me. Forgive me." Sound familiar? It should. Because most of us are living in that same tension right now. In today's message — "Waiting on God with Whole Heart" — we're going to walk through three powerful truths. 1.     First, that real trust means surrendering your direction to God. 2.     Second, that God's guidance flows out of His deep, covenant love — what the Hebrew calls hesed. 3.     And third, that honest confession unlocks both God's forgiveness and His friendship. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: You Are God's Own: Living as the Living Stones Today's message comes from one of the richest, most identity-shaping passages in the entire New Testament — 1 Peter 2:2–10. And I want to tell you right up front: this is not just theology for the seminary classroom. This is a living word for living people in a confusing world. Peter is writing to believers who are scattered, displaced, and struggling to know who they are when the culture around them keeps telling them they don't belong. Sound familiar? Because honestly, that sounds a lot like the church today. In this sermon, we're going to walk through three powerful realities that Peter lays out. First, we're going to talk about what it means to crave God's Word the way a newborn craves milk — urgently, instinctively, and constantly. Second, we're going to look at what it means to be built as living stones on the foundation of Jesus Christ — the Cornerstone the world rejected but God chose. And third, we're going to sit with the breathtaking identity God gives His people: a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. Each of these realities carries with it a practical challenge for the week ahead. So grab your Bible, open it to 1 Peter 2, and let's dig in together. I believe God has something for you today. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.     

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: The Voice That You Can Trust! You know what? We live in a world full of voices. Everywhere you turn, someone is telling you what to believe, how to live, what matters most. Some voices are loud. Some are persuasive. Some even sound spiritual. But here's the question we need to ask—which voice can you trust? Today we're going to look at John 10:1-10, where Jesus begins teaching about shepherds, sheep, and thieves. At first glance, it might seem like a simple illustration. But honestly, it is much more than that. Jesus is drawing a clear line between truth and deception, between those who come from God and those who do not. And here's the thing—this matters deeply for your life. Because if you follow the wrong voice, you will end up in the wrong place. But if you listen to the voice of Christ, you will find life, safety, and truth. In today's message, we're going to see three key truths: 1.     First, that there are false voices trying to lead people astray. 2.     Second, that Jesus alone is the true Shepherd. 3.     And third, that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. So wherever you are right now—driving, sitting at home, or taking a walk—I want to encourage you to listen carefully. Not just to me, but to the Word of God. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Cut To The Heart! Today we are looking at Acts 2:36–41. This is one of the most powerful moments in the entire New Testament. Peter is preaching at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has come. And now something incredible happens—the people listening are cut to the heart. Let me say that again, because it matters: they are cut to the heart. And here's the thing—this passage shows us what real conviction looks like, what true repentance looks like, and what genuine faith looks like. It shows us how a person moves from hearing about Jesus… to surrendering to Jesus. Honestly, that's something we all need to understand. In today's message, we're going to walk through four simple but life-changing truths: Who Jesus really is What conviction really does How we are called to respond And what happens when we truly believe * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  From Doubt To Faith! Today we are stepping into one of the most personal and relatable passages in all of Scripture—John 20:24–31. It's the account of Thomas, often called "Doubting Thomas." And honestly, I think many of us understand Thomas better than we might like to admit. Here's the thing—Thomas isn't just a man in the Bible. Thomas is us. He represents those moments when faith feels shaky, when questions rise, when we struggle to believe what we cannot see. But this passage is not ultimately about doubt. It's about something far greater. It's about the grace of Jesus Christ that meets us right in the middle of our doubt. In today's message, we're going to see four powerful truths: Jesus meets us in our doubt Jesus gives evidence for faith Jesus calls us to believe And Jesus blesses those who trust Him And here's the action point I want you to hold onto as we go through this message: Bring your doubts to Jesus—but don't stay there. Let Him lead you to faith. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  Because He Lives: Hope for Today and Tomorrow! Today we are focusing on the greatest event in human history—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And we are going to reflect on that truth through a beloved hymn, Because He Lives. Many of you know the words: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone." But here's the thing—those words are not just sentimental. They are deeply biblical. They are rooted in the historical, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Let me say that clearly: Jesus really rose. This is not symbolic. This is not poetic. This is not wishful thinking. This is the foundation of our faith. And because He lives, everything changes. It changes how we face fear. It changes how we endure suffering. It changes how we approach uncertainty. And it changes how we face death. In today's message, we're going to explore what it really means to live in light of the resurrection. Not just to celebrate it—but to live in it. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.     

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  The King We Didn't Expect, The Savior We Needed! Today we come to one of the most recognizable scenes in all of Scripture: Palm Sunday. Crowds are gathering. Voices are rising. Branches are waving. People are shouting, "Hosanna!" It feels like a celebration. It looks like a victory parade. And honestly, if we stopped there, we might think everything is going exactly as expected. But here's the thing—John 12:12–26 shows us that something deeper is happening. The people are welcoming a king, but they don't fully understand what kind of king He is. They are expecting political rescue, but Jesus is moving toward something far greater—spiritual salvation through the cross. In this message, we're going to slow down and really see what's happening. We'll explore the excitement of the crowd, the humility of Christ, the misunderstanding of His mission, and the call that Jesus gives to every one of us. And here's where it gets personal—because Palm Sunday isn't just about what they did back then. It's about how we respond to Jesus today. Will we follow Him only when it's easy? Or will we follow Him all the way to the cross? * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  I Am The Resurrection And The Life! Today we are looking at one of the most powerful statements Jesus ever made. In John 11, standing in the middle of grief and loss, Jesus says something astonishing: "I am the resurrection and the life." Those words were spoken to a woman named Martha whose brother Lazarus had just died. Her heart was broken. Her hopes seemed shattered. And yet, right there in the middle of sorrow, Jesus speaks words that still echo through history. You know what? Every single one of us eventually faces the same questions Martha faced. What happens when death comes? Is there hope beyond the grave? Is there life after loss? Jesus does not give Martha a theory. He gives her Himself. And honestly, that is the heart of the Christian faith. Christianity is not just about rules or traditions or even ideas about God. Christianity is about a living Savior who conquered death.. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

Are we just gathering, or are we governing? In this powerful continuation of our 21 days of prayer and fasting, guest speaker James Aladiran delivers a timely and challenging word titled “Lord, Revive Us Again.”Drawing from Matthew 16, James reveals that Jesus didn't just come to start a weekly congregation; He came to build His Ecclesia—a body of believers empowered to shift the spiritual climate of their cities to match the culture of Heaven. Throughout this episode, you will hear incredible stories of God moving in Manchester, alongside a strong pastoral call to reject compromise, break free from spiritual slumber, and step into deep, corporate prayer. Jesus declared His house would be a house of prayer for all nations, and this message will stir your heart to take your place on the wall.Take a moment this week to reflect: how can your personal prayer life shift the atmosphere of your home, your workplace, and your city? We invite you to listen, let the Lord search your heart, and share this episode with anyone hungry for a true move of God in our nation.

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  Walking As Children Of Light Today we're looking at a powerful passage from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians—Ephesians 5:8–14. In these verses, Paul talks about the difference between darkness and light. That's something even children understand. When the lights go out at night, everything feels different. You can't see clearly. You might stumble over things that were easy to avoid during the day. Paul uses that simple picture to describe something very serious about the Christian life. Before we knew Christ, we walked in darkness. We didn't just visit darkness—we lived there. But when Jesus saves a person, something changes. Paul says we become children of light. And that raises an important question for every one of us: If we belong to the light, are we actually living like people of the light? In this message we'll explore four truths from this passage: We were once in darkness. Christ has made us children of light. Children of light produce spiritual fruit. Light exposes darkness and awakens people to Christ. By the end of this message, my prayer is that each of us will better understand what it means to truly walk in the light of Christ in everyday life. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.     

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  While We Were Yet Sinners Today we spent time in one of the most powerful passages in the entire Bible—Romans 5:6–11. The message is simple, but it is life-changing: God demonstrated His love for us while we were still sinners. Think about what we saw together. 1.     First, we learned that humanity is helpless in sin. We cannot rescue ourselves or earn our way back to God. 2.     Second, we saw the astonishing truth that Christ died for sinners. God did not wait until we were worthy. Instead, Jesus stepped into our brokenness and took our place on the cross. 3.     Third, we discovered that through the blood of Jesus we are justified and reconciled to God. The barrier between us and God has been removed. 4.     And finally, we saw that salvation leads to joy in God Himself. When we belong to Christ, we are not only forgiven—we are welcomed into a restored relationship with our Creator. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  Sinners in the Hands of a Holy God Several years ago, there was a controlled burn planned outside a rural community. The goal was good — clear brush, prevent a larger wildfire later. Experts monitored wind, timing, moisture levels. But something changed. The wind shifted faster than expected. Flames moved in a direction no one predicted. What was controlled suddenly became dangerous. Sirens sounded. People were warned to evacuate. Here is what struck me: the danger was real long before people felt it. The fire did not become dangerous when people noticed it. It was dangerous the entire time. The warning was an act of mercy, not fear-mongering. You know what? Warnings are love when danger is real. A sign that says "bridge out ahead" is not negative — it is compassionate. A doctor who names a diagnosis is not cruel — he is honest so treatment can begin. And Scripture speaks this way about judgment. Not to terrify for its own sake. Not to manipulate emotion. But to awaken reality. Hell is not a scare tactic invented by preachers. It is a truth revealed by Jesus. And every warning in Scripture is mercy speaking before it is too late. That is where we begin today. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

201.จงชื่นใจยินดี (Revive Us Again) by คริสตจักรตรัง

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  I'm Still A Little Bit Curious When I was a boy, I used to love looking at maps. Big paper maps. I would trace the highways with my finger and imagine traveling to places I had never been. I had never seen the Rocky Mountains, but I knew they were there. I had never stood on the ocean shore, but I believed it existed because the map showed it clearly. Now here's the thing. The map didn't show every detail. It didn't tell me what the air smelled like or how cold the water would feel. But it showed enough to assure me that the destination was real. The Bible is like that when it comes to heaven. It does not give us every detail. It does not satisfy every curiosity. But it gives us enough-enough to assure us that heaven is real, enough to tell us how to get there, and enough to  give us hope when the road gets hard. And honestly, when you're walking through something like cancer, you study the map more closely. You don't just glance at it. You lean into it. Today, we open the map. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  I'm Just A Little Bit Curious When I was a kid, one of the hardest things to hear was, "You'll find out later." You ask a question—about a trip, a surprise, what's coming next—and the answer is just vague enough to leave you hanging. No details. No timeline. Just waiting. But even then, there was something reassuring about it. I didn't know what was coming, but I knew something was. And that knowledge changed how I waited. It shaped my anticipation. It gave me a sense that the waiting itself wasn't empty. Honestly, that's how many of us approach heaven. We don't have all the details. Scripture doesn't give us a full blueprint or a guided tour. But it does give us promises. And those promises are meant to change how we wait, how we live, and how we face what's in front of us. I'll be honest with you this morning. In recent months, heaven has felt a little closer for me. Walking through a stage-four cancer diagnosis has a way of sharpening questions that most of us prefer to keep at arm's length. Questions about time. About fragility. About what really lasts. And here's what I've noticed—not panic, not despair, but curiosity. A quiet, reverent curiosity. Not the kind that demands answers God hasn't given, but the kind that leans in and listens closely to what Jesus has said. That's what today is about. Not speculation. Not fear. But listening to Jesus as He speaks to troubled hearts and points us toward a future that is real, prepared, and secure. I want you to hear this clearly: this sermon is not about escaping life. It's about trusting Christ—right here, right now, and all the way into eternity. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  You Are the Light and Salt In the World This is not a message about self-promotion. It is not a call to moral superiority. And it is certainly not a command to withdraw from the world in fear. Instead, it is a clear, steady call to faithful presence—to living in such a way that the grace of God, the truth of Christ, and the goodness of the gospel quietly but unmistakably shine through ordinary lives. As we walk through this passage together, we'll talk about influence, witness, faithfulness, and purpose. We'll talk about what it means to live distinctly without becoming self-righteous, and visibly without becoming performative. And we'll ask the honest question: What does it look like to be salt and light right where God has placed us? * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.     

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   God's Wise Way! In 1 Corinthians 1:18–31, the apostle Paul speaks to a church that is getting pulled into pride, cliques, and competition. And Paul doesn't fix it by giving them a motivational speech. He fixes it by pointing them back to the center of everything: the cross of Jesus Christ. Today we're going to move through the message in three sections: 1.     The cross divides the world 2.     God overturns the world's rankings 3.     Christ becomes everything we need And we'll keep returning to practical action points: trust the cross, drop boasting, and live with humble courage. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   Behold The Lamb! Today we walked through John 1:29-42 and saw four movements: beholding Jesus the Lamb who removes sin, hearing testimony that points to Him, responding to His personal "Come, and you will see," and extending that invitation by bringing others. The big idea? Jesus calls us to Himself and then sends us to others—simple, personal, life-changing. Carry these action steps with you: 1.    Name one sin today and thank Jesus for taking it away. 2.    Listen actively to testimony—maybe in Scripture, a sermon, or a friend. 3.    Protect time to "come and see" Jesus this week—no distractions. 4.    Identify one person and share a short, honest sentence about what Jesus means to you. These aren't complicated; they're faithful. In our conservative trust in Scripture's authority, they're enough. If this encouraged you, pass the podcast along. . * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.   

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   Dead To Sin, Alive in Christ Today, we're diving into Romans 6:1-11, a powerful passage that challenges us to leave sin behind and embrace the new life Jesus offers. This sermon, titled "Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ: Embracing Our New Life in Jesus," explores how Paul's words to the early church in Rome speak directly to us today. Big Idea We'll uncover the big idea that through our union with Christ in His death and resurrection, we're freed from sin's grip and called to live for God. Core Message Proposition Our core message proposition is this: Because we have died with Christ and been raised to new life, we must reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in everyday choices. Honestly, this isn't just theology—it's practical freedom for your daily walk. As we go through the points, we'll see how baptism symbolizes this union, how we're no longer slaves to sin, and how we can live victoriously. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.     

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   Fruit In Keeping With Repentance On this Second Sunday of Advent, the Church has always heard one voice rising above the noise of the season: the voice of John the Baptist crying in the wilderness, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" While the world rushes toward Christmas with lights and lists, the lectionary pulls us into the desert for a moment, because true preparation for the coming King is never superficial. It begins in the heart. John doesn't offer sentimental comfort; he offers life-changing hope. Repentance, he says, must produce fruit—real, visible, lasting evidence that the King is reshaping us from the inside out. In today's message, we'll walk straight through Matthew 3:1–12 and ask the question Advent forces on every honest heart: Am I truly ready for Jesus to come—not just to a manger 2,000 years ago, but to my life today, and when He returns in glory? If you long for more than a frantic December, if you want Christmas to change you instead of just entertain you, open your Bible with me to Matthew 3 and let's get ready together. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   Ready For The Day Today we light the first Advent candle—the candle of hope, the prophecy candle—and we open our Bibles to one of the most sobering and stirring passages in the New Testament: Matthew 24:36–44. Jesus tells us plainly that He is coming back at an hour we do not expect, and He uses words like "thief" and "flood" and "one taken, one left." If we're honest, those images can make our hearts race a little. But here's the thing—they're meant to wake us up, not scare us to death. They're meant to fill us with holy expectation. Big Idea today for this message is: Because Jesus is coming at an hour we do not expect, we live every ordinary day as people who are awake, watchful, and working for His kingdom. We'll walk through three clear movements in the text: 1.     The rock-solid Certainty of His coming 2.     The deliberate Uncertainty of the timing 3.     The daily Urgency of readiness * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.     

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   The Preeminence of Christ Today we're in Colossians 1:13–20, one of the highest mountain peaks in all of Scripture. Paul takes us straight to the throne of the preeminent Christ—the One who rescued us from the dominion of darkness, the One by whom and for whom everything exists, the One in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, the One who reconciled all things by the blood of His cross. Here's the big idea we'll keep coming back to: Jesus Christ is supreme over creation, supreme over the new creation, and therefore supreme over every square inch of our lives. The proposition is simple and life-changing: Because Christ is preeminent in everything, we must gladly give Him first place in everything. During the next minutes we'll look at three points in the text: He has delivered us and transferred us (vv. 13–14) He is the Creator and Sustainer who holds all things together (vv. 15–17) He is the Head of the church and the Reconciler of all things (vv. 18–20) Then we'll land on some very practical ways this supreme Christ changes how we wake up tomorrow morning, how we face cancer or any other trial, how we treat our spouse, how we spend our money, and how we speak about Jesus to our neighbors. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   The Day Is Coming! Today we're digging into a passage that has both weight and hope: Malachi 4:1-6. We'll walk together through the final admonition of the Old Testament, exploring the coming "day of the Lord," the promise for those who fear His name, the call to remember God's statutes, and the hope of restoration through the one sent before that great day. Here's the thing — this passage doesn't simply belong in ancient history; it speaks to us here, now, in our lives, our families, our community. I'm aware, myself, as I go through my health journey, how life sometimes feels fragile, how time sometimes seems shorter; and in that awareness I find this passage deeply comforting and challenging. It's comforting because we belong to God, and He assures us of healing and restoration. It's challenging because He warns us of a day coming, a day we cannot avoid, a day we need to be ready for. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   Standing Firm Until He Comes Today we're opening God's Word to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8—a passage about calmness in confusion, truth in the face of deception, and endurance when the world seems to shake. Paul writes to believers who were frightened, convinced that the day of the Lord had already come. Some were anxious, some disillusioned, some even giving up hope. But Paul reminds them—and us—that God has not lost control. We'll walk through three major truths: 1.     The call to not be shaken, to stay anchored when rumors and fears swirl. 2.     The revelation of lawlessness and the mysterious restrainer—reminding us that evil is real but never sovereign. 3.     And finally, the glorious triumph of Christ, who will destroy wickedness simply by the breath of His mouth. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

Revive Us Again! - Pastor Kip Jacob

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   God's Call To Wash And Return Today's message comes from the book of Isaiah, chapter one, verses ten through eighteen — a passage where the Lord speaks to His people about the danger of empty religion. It's a strong word, yet a gracious one. God is not rejecting worship itself; He is calling for hearts that are sincere, lives that match the prayers we pray, and faith that transforms the way we live. Isaiah's words pierce through the surface of religion and reach deep into the heart. They remind us that God desires obedience more than offerings, repentance more than ritual, and transformation more than tradition. If you've ever wondered whether your walk with God has grown routine — if your faith has ever felt mechanical, distant, or tired — then this message is for you. The Lord invites His people to reason with Him, to come and be cleansed. His grace is greater than our rebellion, and His mercy is still calling us home. Stay with me, and together we'll walk through Isaiah 1:10–18 — When Religion Becomes Rebellion: God's Call to Wash and Return. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

[My apologies for not uploading this earlier!] This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   Finishing Well: The Crown That Awaits This week's message is titled “Finishing Well: The Crown That Awaits.” We'll be studying 2 Timothy 4:6–8, where the Apostle Paul, nearing the end of his earthly journey, reflects with calm assurance upon a life spent serving Christ. These verses are often read at funerals, but they were written by a man who was very much alive — chained in a Roman cell yet utterly confident in the victory of faith. Paul's words are not those of defeat but of fulfillment. He could say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” His eyes were not on the executioner's sword but on the righteous Judge who awaited him in glory. In this episode, we'll look closely at what it means to finish well — to live with eternity in view, to remain faithful through suffering, and to anticipate the crown that awaits those who love Christ's appearing. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. “Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Farmersville, OhioOctober 19, 2025Nineteenth Sunday after PentecostAnnouncementsPreludeOpening Hymn - "All People That on Earth Do Dwell" - LBW #245Responsive ReadingPrayer of the DayChildren's SermonFirst Lesson - Amos 6:1-7Second Lesson - 1 Timothy 6:6-16Hymn - "Revive Us Again"Gospel - Luke 16:19-31Sermon - "You Can't Take it With You - So What Will You Leave Behind?"Song - "Your Name" (Paul Baloche)Apostles' CreedOfferingOffertory - "We Give Thee But Thine Own" - LBW #410, v. 1Prayers of the ChurchLord's PrayerBenedictionExodus Hymn - "Amazing Grace" - #448DismissalFor the video version of today's service, please visit https://youtu.be/K52G_juBHVwMay God bless you now and always!

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:   Hope in a World That Feels Hopeless We live in a world where hope feels like a rare commodity. Every headline seems to scream despair—wars, moral collapse, division in our communities, sickness, and uncertainty about the future. And yet, Scripture insists that followers of Christ have something the world can't offer: a blessed hope. Not a fragile optimism, not wishful thinking, but a steady and certain confidence grounded in Jesus Christ. Our passage today is Titus 2:13, which says: "Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus." (Titus 2:13, NASB95) This verse anchors us in something real. It reminds us that Christian hope is not built on circumstances but on a Person—our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He has come once to save us, and He is coming again to reign in glory. That truth changes everything about how we live in the present. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. “Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

Today our senior pastor, Steve Campbell, speaks a powerful message about revival called Revive Us Again.

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:  Counting The Cost Welcome to "Serving Jesus Christ," the podcast from Our Savior's Free Lutheran Church in Argyle, Minnesota. I'm Pastor Warren Swanson, and today we're diving deep into Luke 14:25-35. This passage is a gut-check for anyone who claims to follow Jesus. It's not about casual faith or half-hearted commitment—it's about giving everything to Him. Jesus speaks to the crowds, demanding they hate family and self in comparison to loving Him, carry their cross, count the cost like a builder planning a tower or a king preparing for war, and renounce all possessions to be His disciples. The salty finish reminds us to stay useful for God's kingdom, or risk being cast aside. Here's the thing: in our distracted, fast-paced world, this passage forces us to pause and ask, “Are we truly disciples, or just fans of Jesus?” The big idea is that genuine discipleship demands unwavering allegiance to Christ above everything else. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. “Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

Dr. Darrin Wright,FBCW,FBC Wheeling,Psalm Sermon, Psalm, Revive Us Again, Psalm 85,

Featuring our need for revival and how to prepare for it. You can listen to the hymn, "Revive Us Again" here: https://youtu.be/RuMrQt4l6qE?si=e0kTKLBaXeP-dkqxDon't forget to check out our website! https://treasurehuntpodcast.wixsite.com/realtreasure

Celebrating our fifth season of the Suebiquitous Podcast with host Sue Duffield, starts with a newness of heart, mind, soul and body. Revivify, the word, means "to bring new life" to something that is dead or in need of a resurrection.  One of the Bible's most incredible statements is "..that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead now lives in us.." (Romans 8:11). Just that message alone should ignite whatever is dead in you, to come alive. Take a few minutes after listening to this episode and ask yourself these questions: What's in my life that has become stagnant, dry, or even dead? How do I even know if I'm "dead" to the Living Word? What are the things that keep me dead, isolated or out of contact with the Holy Spirit? Know this: It's a simple as asking. Then take your stand for Christ and get those bones moving! Matthew 18: 19-20 reminds us, “If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” www.sueduffield.com "Revive Us Again", by Jeff & Sue Duffield/Hymphonic Album BMI ©2012 Available on iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify and YouTube

1:19 Revive Us Again by Pastor Aaron Wallace

This podcast features the song "Revive Us Again" (West Coast Baptist College) as well as part 2 of the message called "Making Sense of the Storm" given by Pastor Stephen Pope from the pulpit of Calvary Baptist Church(Union Grove, NC)

Piano: 'Revive Us Again' , arranged by Mark HayesRev. Raymond G. CoffmanPodcast HostZachary SmithPianist Audio Engineer Clark CoffmanLog Cabin Community ChurchVinings Georgia

This is a special musical presentation of Revive Us Again with the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

eligiously Incorrect Podcast | 6.23.24S.5 E.20“Revive Us Again?”Pastor Jeff and Pastor Todd discuss revivals, what happened to them and how we can “revive” them.#SundayNightService #RIP #RealRawUncutFollow us on YouTube, IG, Twitter, and FB!Hosts: Pastor Todd and Pastor JeffProduced by: Marsh Media Group LLCProduction: Big MikeDesign by: Larry JohnsonMusic: J. Austin & Tevin MichaelFOLLOW:WEBSITE: http://www.ReligiouslyIncorrectPodcas...FACEBOOK:   / religiouslyincorrectpodcast  TWITTER:   / officialripc  INSTAGRAM:   / religiouslyincorrectpodcast  

A new MP3 sermon from Bemiss Road Baptist Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Revive Us Again Subtitle: WZYN Preaching Time Speaker: Bobby Barnes Broadcaster: Bemiss Road Baptist Church Event: Special Meeting Date: 6/26/2024 Length: 25 min.

In this video, Pastor Roderick Webster delivers a powerful message on the need for revival based on biblical scripture. He begins by referencing William P. Mackay's hymn 'Revive Us Again' from Psalms 85:6, expressing joy in the potential for spiritual renewal. The scripture from Acts chapter 2 is then discussed in detail, emphasizing the unity of believers, the events of Pentecost, and the filling of the Holy Spirit. The speaker cautions against neglecting church gatherings and stresses the importance of community and giving in maintaining the church's vitality. The message concludes with a call to action for believers to read, listen, and act on God's word, praying for a revival that will showcase Christ's presence in their lives. A heartfelt prayer closes the session, asking for God's blessing and the spirit of revival. 00:00 Introduction and Opening Prayer 00:05 Revive Us Again: A Hymn Reflection 00:58 The Importance of Gathering Together 01:09 The Day of Pentecost: A Detailed Reading 03:00 The Power of Unity and the Holy Spirit 05:45 Peter's Sermon and the Prophecy of Joel 07:15 A Call for Revival and Personal Reflection 09:33 Concluding Prayer and Blessings --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gnbc/message

Join us in today's devotional as we embark on an important new series about revival in the church. Reflect on the powerful insights from Isaiah 64:1-12 and the timeless hymn 'Revive Us Again' by William Mackey. Discover the significance of spiritual revival and the urgent call for humility and prayer from 2 Chronicles 7:13-14. Amidst the global uncertainties and challenges, let's seek God's presence and renew our faith. Tune in for a heartfelt message that encourages believers to reignite their passion for the Lord. 00:00 Opening Greetings and Appreciation 00:49 Introducing the New Series on Revival 01:05 Reflecting on the Week of Revival Services 02:36 The Importance of Revival and Personal Renewal 03:15 Isaiah's Prayer for Revival 06:59 Navigating Through Global Challenges 08:22 The Power of Humility and Prayer 09:45 The Church's Response to Spiritual Coldness 10:47 Closing Thoughts and Prayer for Revival --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gnbc/message

Give to help the Truce Podcast! Harold Ockenga was a famous fundamentalist(ish) pastor from Boston. And he had a problem. Liberal Christians had the ear of the government. That meant that military chaplain positions and free radio time were going to liberals, not conservatives. Why shouldn't conservatives have access to the radio waves like theologically liberal Christians? But that would take unity among evangelicals, or, what he called neo-evangelicals. Neo-evangelicals were evangelicals who didn't separate from the world. In Ockenga's case, this meant maybe going to the movies or an opera. So he, along with other preachers like Billy Graham, founded the National Association of Evangelicals with the hope of uniting neo-evangelicals under one banner. It didn't work. The real story, though, sometimes gets lost. The was a big boom in evangelism in the 1940s as WWII wrapped up. Evangelists targeted the youth with organizations like Campus Crusade for Christ springing up left and right. This boom meant that churches swelled in the 1950s, only to begin their long slide a few decades later. In this episode, Chris speaks with Joel Carpenter, a senior research fellow at Calvin College and author of "Revive Us Again". Resources Used: "Revive Us Again" by Joel Carpenter "The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitzgerald "The Surprising Work of God" by Garth Rosell "Reaganland" by Rick Perlstein NPS article about the Bonus Army “After the Ivory Tower Falls” book by Will Bunch Billy Graham audio National Association of Evangelicals "The New Treason" Interviews from Harold Ockenga at Wheaton College Discussion Questions: What spurred the revivals of the 1940s? How has youth evangelism shaped American society? Why is it important to understand the role that cheap higher education played in shaping the 1960s? Why did neo-evangelicals feel that they needed access to the radio waves? Is unity important to the Christian walk? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christmas (Christmas Day) First Psalm: Psalm 2; Psalm 85 Psalm 2 (Listen) The Reign of the Lord's Anointed 2   Why do the nations rage1    and the peoples plot in vain?2   The kings of the earth set themselves,    and the rulers take counsel together,    against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,3   “Let us burst their bonds apart    and cast away their cords from us.” 4   He who sits in the heavens laughs;    the Lord holds them in derision.5   Then he will speak to them in his wrath,    and terrify them in his fury, saying,6   “As for me, I have set my King    on Zion, my holy hill.” 7   I will tell of the decree:  The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;    today I have begotten you.8   Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,    and the ends of the earth your possession.9   You shall break2 them with a rod of iron    and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 10   Now therefore, O kings, be wise;    be warned, O rulers of the earth.11   Serve the LORD with fear,    and rejoice with trembling.12   Kiss the Son,    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,    for his wrath is quickly kindled.  Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Footnotes [1] 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble [2] 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule (ESV) Psalm 85 (Listen) Revive Us Again To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 85   LORD, you were favorable to your land;    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2   You forgave the iniquity of your people;    you covered all their sin. Selah3   You withdrew all your wrath;    you turned from your hot anger. 4   Restore us again, O God of our salvation,    and put away your indignation toward us!5   Will you be angry with us forever?    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?6   Will you not revive us again,    that your people may rejoice in you?7   Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,    and grant us your salvation. 8   Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;    but let them not turn back to folly.9   Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,    that glory may dwell in our land. 10   Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;    righteousness and peace kiss each other.11   Faithfulness springs up from the ground,    and righteousness looks down from the sky.12   Yes, the LORD will give what is good,    and our land will yield its increase.13   Righteousness will go before him    and make his footsteps a way. (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 110; Psalm 132 Psalm 110 (Listen) Sit at My Right Hand A Psalm of David. 110   The LORD says to my Lord:    “Sit at my right hand,  until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2   The LORD sends forth from Zion    your mighty scepter.    Rule in the midst of your enemies!3   Your people will offer themselves freely    on the day of your power,1    in holy garments;2  from the womb of the morning,    the dew of your youth will be yours.34   The LORD has sworn    and will not change his mind,  “You are a priest forever    after the order of Melchizedek.” 5   The Lord is at your right hand;    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.6   He will execute judgment among the nations,    filling them with corpses;  he will shatter chiefs4    over the wide earth.7   He will drink from the brook by the way;    therefore he will lift up his head. Footnotes [1] 110:3 Or on the day you lead your forces [2] 110:3 Masoretic Text; some Hebrew manuscripts and Jerome on the holy mountains [3] 110:3 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 110:6 Or the head (ESV) Psalm 132 (Listen) The Lord Has Chosen Zion A Song of Ascents. 132   Remember, O LORD, in David's favor,    all the hardships he endured,2   how he swore to the LORD    and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,3   “I will not enter my house    or get into my bed,4   I will not give sleep to my eyes    or slumber to my eyelids,5   until I find a place for the LORD,    a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 6   Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;    we found it in the fields of Jaar.7   “Let us go to his dwelling place;    let us worship at his footstool!” 8   Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place,    you and the ark of your might.9   Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,    and let your saints shout for joy.10   For the sake of your servant David,    do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 11   The LORD swore to David a sure oath    from which he will not turn back:  “One of the sons of your body1    I will set on your throne.12   If your sons keep my covenant    and my testimonies that I shall teach them,  their sons also forever    shall sit on your throne.” 13   For the LORD has chosen Zion;    he has desired it for his dwelling place:14   “This is my resting place forever;    here I will dwell, for I have desired it.15   I will abundantly bless her provisions;    I will satisfy her poor with bread.16   Her priests I will clothe with salvation,    and her saints will shout for joy.17   There I will make a horn to sprout for David;    I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.18   His enemies I will clothe with shame,    but on him his crown will shine.” Footnotes [1] 132:11 Hebrew of your fruit of the womb (ESV) Old Testament: Micah 4:1–5; Micah 5:2–4 Micah 4:1–5 (Listen) The Mountain of the Lord 4   It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the LORD  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;  and peoples shall flow to it,2     and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,    to the house of the God of Jacob,  that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,1    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3   He shall judge between many peoples,    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,    and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,    neither shall they learn war anymore;4   but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,    and no one shall make them afraid,    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.5   For all the peoples walk    each in the name of its god,  but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God    forever and ever. Footnotes [1] 4:2 Or teaching (ESV) Micah 5:2–4 (Listen) 2   1 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,  from you shall come forth for me    one who is to be ruler in Israel,  whose coming forth is from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth. Footnotes [1] 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew (ESV) New Testament: 1 John 4:7–16 1 John 4:7–16 (Listen) God Is Love 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV) Gospel: John 3:31–36 John 3:31–36 (Listen) 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

Proper 27 First Psalm: Psalm 23; Psalm 27; Psalm 83 Psalm 23 (Listen) The Lord Is My Shepherd A Psalm of David. 23   The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.13     He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness2    for his name's sake. 4   Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,3    I will fear no evil,  for you are with me;    your rod and your staff,    they comfort me. 5   You prepare a table before me    in the presence of my enemies;  you anoint my head with oil;    my cup overflows.6   Surely4 goodness and mercy5 shall follow me    all the days of my life,  and I shall dwell6 in the house of the LORD    forever.7 Footnotes [1] 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest [2] 23:3 Or in right paths [3] 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness [4] 23:6 Or Only [5] 23:6 Or steadfast love [6] 23:6 Or shall return to dwell [7] 23:6 Hebrew for length of days (ESV) Psalm 27 (Listen) The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation Of David. 27   The LORD is my light and my salvation;    whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold1 of my life;    of whom shall I be afraid? 2   When evildoers assail me    to eat up my flesh,  my adversaries and foes,    it is they who stumble and fall. 3   Though an army encamp against me,    my heart shall not fear;  though war arise against me,    yet2 I will be confident. 4   One thing have I asked of the LORD,    that will I seek after:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD    all the days of my life,  to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD    and to inquire3 in his temple. 5   For he will hide me in his shelter    in the day of trouble;  he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;    he will lift me high upon a rock. 6   And now my head shall be lifted up    above my enemies all around me,  and I will offer in his tent    sacrifices with shouts of joy;  I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 7   Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;    be gracious to me and answer me!8   You have said, “Seek4 my face.”  My heart says to you,    “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”59     Hide not your face from me.  Turn not your servant away in anger,    O you who have been my help.  Cast me not off; forsake me not,    O God of my salvation!10   For my father and my mother have forsaken me,    but the LORD will take me in. 11   Teach me your way, O LORD,    and lead me on a level path    because of my enemies.12   Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;    for false witnesses have risen against me,    and they breathe out violence. 13   I believe that I shall look6 upon the goodness of the LORD    in the land of the living!14   Wait for the LORD;    be strong, and let your heart take courage;    wait for the LORD! Footnotes [1] 27:1 Or refuge [2] 27:3 Or in this [3] 27:4 Or meditate [4] 27:8 The command (seek) is addressed to more than one person [5] 27:8 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain [6] 27:13 Other Hebrew manuscripts Oh! Had I not believed that I would look (ESV) Psalm 83 (Listen) O God, Do Not Keep Silence A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. 83   O God, do not keep silence;    do not hold your peace or be still, O God!2   For behold, your enemies make an uproar;    those who hate you have raised their heads.3   They lay crafty plans against your people;    they consult together against your treasured ones.4   They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;    let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”5   For they conspire with one accord;    against you they make a covenant—6   the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,    Moab and the Hagrites,7   Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,    Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;8   Asshur also has joined them;    they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah 9   Do to them as you did to Midian,    as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,10   who were destroyed at En-dor,    who became dung for the ground.11   Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,12   who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves    of the pastures of God.” 13   O my God, make them like whirling dust,1    like chaff before the wind.14   As fire consumes the forest,    as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,15   so may you pursue them with your tempest    and terrify them with your hurricane!16   Fill their faces with shame,    that they may seek your name, O LORD.17   Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;    let them perish in disgrace,18   that they may know that you alone,    whose name is the LORD,    are the Most High over all the earth. Footnotes [1] 83:13 Or like a tumbleweed (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalms 85–86 Psalms 85–86 (Listen) Revive Us Again To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 85   LORD, you were favorable to your land;    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2   You forgave the iniquity of your people;    you covered all their sin. Selah3   You withdrew all your wrath;    you turned from your hot anger. 4   Restore us again, O God of our salvation,    and put away your indignation toward us!5   Will you be angry with us forever?    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?6   Will you not revive us again,    that your people may rejoice in you?7   Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,    and grant us your salvation. 8   Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;    but let them not turn back to folly.9   Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,    that glory may dwell in our land. 10   Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;    righteousness and peace kiss each other.11   Faithfulness springs up from the ground,    and righteousness looks down from the sky.12   Yes, the LORD will give what is good,    and our land will yield its increase.13   Righteousness will go before him    and make his footsteps a way. Great Is Your Steadfast Love A Prayer of David. 86   Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,    for I am poor and needy.2   Preserve my life, for I am godly;    save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.3   Be gracious to me, O Lord,    for to you do I cry all the day.4   Gladden the soul of your servant,    for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.5   For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.6   Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;    listen to my plea for grace.7   In the day of my trouble I call upon you,    for you answer me. 8   There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,    nor are there any works like yours.9   All the nations you have made shall come    and worship before you, O Lord,    and shall glorify your name.10   For you are great and do wondrous things;    you alone are God.11   Teach me your way, O LORD,    that I may walk in your truth;    unite my heart to fear your name.12   I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,    and I will glorify your name forever.13   For great is your steadfast love toward me;    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 14   O God, insolent men have risen up against me;    a band of ruthless men seeks my life,    and they do not set you before them.15   But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.16   Turn to me and be gracious to me;    give your strength to your servant,    and save the son of your maidservant.17   Show me a sign of your favor,    that those who hate me may see and be put to shame    because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me. (ESV) Old Testament: 1 Maccabees 1:1-28 New Testament: Revelation 19:1–10 Revelation 19:1–10 (Listen) Rejoicing in Heaven 19 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,   “Hallelujah!  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,2     for his judgments are true and just;  for he has judged the great prostitute    who corrupted the earth with her immorality,  and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 3 Once more they cried out,   “Hallelujah!  The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,   “Praise our God,    all you his servants,  you who fear him,    small and great.” The Marriage Supper of the Lamb 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,   “Hallelujah!  For the Lord our God    the Almighty reigns.7   Let us rejoice and exult    and give him the glory,  for the marriage of the Lamb has come,    and his Bride has made herself ready;8   it was granted her to clothe herself    with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said1 to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Footnotes [1] 19:9 Greek he said (ESV) Gospel: Matthew 16:1–12 Matthew 16:1–12 (Listen) The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs 16 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them,1 “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed. The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees 5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 

Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 85 Psalm 85 (Listen) Revive Us Again To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 85   LORD, you were favorable to your land;    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2   You forgave the iniquity of your people;    you covered all their sin. Selah3   You withdrew all your wrath;    you turned from your hot anger. 4   Restore us again, O God of our salvation,    and put away your indignation toward us!5   Will you be angry with us forever?    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?6   Will you not revive us again,    that your people may rejoice in you?7   Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,    and grant us your salvation. 8   Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;    but let them not turn back to folly.9   Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,    that glory may dwell in our land. 10   Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;    righteousness and peace kiss each other.11   Faithfulness springs up from the ground,    and righteousness looks down from the sky.12   Yes, the LORD will give what is good,    and our land will yield its increase.13   Righteousness will go before him    and make his footsteps a way. (ESV) Pentateuch and History: 1 Kings 18:1–19 1 Kings 18:1–19 (Listen) Elijah Confronts Ahab 18 After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly, 4 and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.” 6 So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself. 7 And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” 8 And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.'” 9 And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 10 As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,' he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. 11 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”' 12 And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth. 13 Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? 14 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”'; and he will kill me.” 15 And Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.” (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Ezekiel 47:13–48:35 Ezekiel 47:13–48:35 (Listen) Division of the Land 13 Thus says the Lord GOD: “This is the boundary1 by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. 14 And you shall divide equally what I swore to give to your fathers. This land shall fall to you as your inheritance. 15 “This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, and on to Zedad,2 16 Berothah, Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-enan, which is on the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north.3 This shall be the north side.4 18 “On the east side, the boundary shall run between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar.5 This shall be the east side. 19 “On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt6 to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side. 20 “On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side. 21 “So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord GOD. 48 “These are the names of the tribes: Beginning at the northern extreme, beside the way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan (which is on the northern border of Damascus over against Hamath), and extending7 from the east side to the west,8 Dan, one portion. 2 Adjoining the territory of Dan, from the east side to the west, Asher, one portion. 3 Adjoining the territory of Asher, from the east side to the west, Naphtali, one portion. 4 Adjoining the territory of Naphtali, from the east side to the west, Manasseh, one portion. 5 Adjoining the territory of Manasseh, from the east side to the west, Ephraim, one portion. 6 Adjoining the territory of Ephraim, from the east side to the west, Reuben, one portion. 7 Adjoining the territory of Reuben, from the east side to the west, Judah, one portion. 8 “Adjoining the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, shall be the portion which you shall set apart, 25,000 cubits9 in breadth, and in length equal to one of the tribal portions, from the east side to the west, with the sanctuary in the midst of it. 9 The portion that you shall set apart for the LORD shall be 25,000 cubits in length, and 20,00010 in breadth. 10 These shall be the allotments of the holy portion: the priests shall have an allotment measuring 25,000 cubits on the northern side, 10,000 cubits in breadth on the western side, 10,000 in breadth on the eastern side, and 25,000 in length on the southern side, with the sanctuary of the LORD in the midst of it. 11 This shall be for the consecrated priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept my charge, who did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, as the Levites did. 12 And it shall belong to them as a special portion from the holy portion of the land, a most holy place, adjoining the territory of the Levites. 13 And alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an allotment 25,000 cubits in length and 10,000 in breadth. The whole length shall be 25,000 cubits and the breadth 20,000.11 14 They shall not sell or exchange any of it. They shall not alienate this choice portion of the land, for it is holy to the LORD. 15 “The remainder, 5,000 cubits in breadth and 25,000 in length, shall be for common use for the city, for dwellings and for open country. In the midst of it shall be the city, 16 and these shall be its measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits, the south side 4,500, the east side 4,500, and the west side 4,500. 17 And the city shall have open land: on the north 250 cubits, on the south 250, on the east 250, and on the west 250. 18 The remainder of the length alongside the holy portion shall be 10,000 cubits to the east, and 10,000 to the west, and it shall be alongside the holy portion. Its produce shall be food for the workers of the city. 19 And the workers of the city, from all the tribes of Israel, shall till it. 20 The whole portion that you shall set apart shall be 25,000 cubits square, that is, the holy portion together with the property of the city. 21 “What remains on both sides of the holy portion and of the property of the city shall belong to the prince. Extending from the 25,000 cubits of the holy portion to the east border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the west border, parallel to the tribal portions, it shall belong to the prince. The holy portion with the sanctuary of the temple shall be in its midst. 22 It shall be separate from the property of the Levites and the property of the city, which are in the midst of that which belongs to the prince. The portion of the prince shall lie between the territory of Judah and the territory of Benjamin. 23 “As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west, Benjamin, one portion. 24 Adjoining the territory of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, Simeon, one portion. 25 Adjoining the territory of Simeon, from the east side to the west, Issachar, one portion. 26 Adjoining the territory of Issachar, from the east side to the west, Zebulun, one portion. 27 Adjoining the territory of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, Gad, one portion. 28 And adjoining the territory of Gad to the south, the boundary shall run from Tamar to the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt12 to the Great Sea.13 29 This is the land that you shall allot as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, declares the Lord GOD. The Gates of the City 30 “These shall be the exits of the city: On the north side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, 31 three gates, the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi, the gates of the city being named after the tribes of Israel. 32 On the east side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates, the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan. 33 On the south side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun. 34 On the west side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates,14 the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali. 35 The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.” Footnotes [1] 47:13 Probable reading; Hebrew The valley of the boundary [2] 47:15 Septuagint; Hebrew the entrance of Zedad, Hamath [3] 47:17 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 47:17 Probable reading; Hebrew and as for the north side [5] 47:18 Compare Syriac; Hebrew to the eastern sea you shall measure [6] 47:19 Hebrew lacks of Egypt [7] 48:1 Probable reading; Hebrew and they shall be his [8] 48:1 Septuagint (compare verses 2–8); Hebrew the east side the west [9] 48:8 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [10] 48:9 Compare 45:1; Hebrew 10,000 [11] 48:13 Septuagint; Hebrew 10,000 [12] 48:28 Hebrew lacks of Egypt [13] 48:28 That is, the Mediterranean Sea [14] 48:34 One Hebrew manuscript, Syriac (compare Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts their gates three (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Romans 16 Romans 16 (Listen) Personal Greetings 16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant1 of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert2 to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,3 my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles,4 and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers5 who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. Final Instructions and Greetings 17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites,6 and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.7 Doxology 25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. Footnotes [1] 16:1 Or deaconess [2] 16:5 Greek firstfruit [3] 16:7 Or Junias [4] 16:7 Or messengers [5] 16:14 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 17 [6] 16:18 Greek their own belly [7] 16:23 Some manuscripts insert verse 24: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (ESV)

With family: 1 Kings 4–5; Ephesians 2 1 Kings 4–5 (Listen) Solomon's Officials 4 King Solomon was king over all Israel, 2 and these were his high officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was the priest; 3 Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 5 Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and king's friend; 6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram the son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor. 7 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year. 8 These were their names: Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; 9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth-hanan; 10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher); 11 Ben-abinadab, in all Naphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam; 13 Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (he had the villages of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; 19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land. Solomon's Wealth and Wisdom 20 Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. 1 21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates2 to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22 Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors3 of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. 24 For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates4 from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. 25 And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. 26 Solomon also had 40,0005 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 27 And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon's table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. 28 Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty. 29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom. Preparations for Building the Temple 5 6 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram always loved David. 2 And Solomon sent word to Hiram, 3 “You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. 5 And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.' 6 Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.” 7 As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. 9 My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.” 10 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired, 11 while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors7 of wheat as food for his household, and 20,0008 cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. 12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty. 13 King Solomon drafted forced labor out of all Israel, and the draft numbered 30,000 men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft. 15 Solomon also had 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country, 16 besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work. 17 At the king's command they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. 18 So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house. Footnotes [1] 4:20 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew [2] 4:21 Hebrew the River [3] 4:22 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters [4] 4:24 Hebrew the River; twice in this verse [5] 4:26 Hebrew; one Hebrew manuscript (see 2 Chronicles 9:25 and Septuagint of 1 Kings 10:26) 4,000 [6] 5:1 Ch 5:15 in Hebrew [7] 5:11 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters [8] 5:11 Septuagint; Hebrew twenty (ESV) Ephesians 2 (Listen) By Grace Through Faith 2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body1 and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.2 4 But3 God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. One in Christ 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,4 but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by5 the Spirit. Footnotes [1] 2:3 Greek flesh [2] 2:3 Greek like the rest [3] 2:4 Or And [4] 2:19 Or sojourners [5] 2:22 Or in (ESV) In private: Psalm 85; Ezekiel 35 Psalm 85 (Listen) Revive Us Again To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 85   LORD, you were favorable to your land;    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2   You forgave the iniquity of your people;    you covered all their sin. Selah3   You withdrew all your wrath;    you turned from your hot anger. 4   Restore us again, O God of our salvation,    and put away your indignation toward us!5   Will you be angry with us forever?    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?6   Will you not revive us again,    that your people may rejoice in you?7   Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,    and grant us your salvation. 8   Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;    but let them not turn back to folly.9   Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,    that glory may dwell in our land. 10   Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;    righteousness and peace kiss each other.11   Faithfulness springs up from the ground,    and righteousness looks down from the sky.12   Yes, the LORD will give what is good,    and our land will yield its increase.13   Righteousness will go before him    and make his footsteps a way. (ESV) Ezekiel 35 (Listen) Prophecy Against Mount Seir 35 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, 3 and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste. 4 I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the LORD. 5 Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment, 6 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you. 7 I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation, and I will cut off from it all who come and go. 8 And I will fill its mountains with the slain. On your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those slain with the sword shall fall. 9 I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 10 “Because you said, ‘These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them'—although the LORD was there—11 therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you. 12 And you shall know that I am the LORD. “I have heard all the revilings that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.' 13 And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against me; I heard it. 14 Thus says the Lord GOD: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15 As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD. (ESV)

Old Testament: Isaiah 10–12 Isaiah 10–12 (Listen) 10   Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees,    and the writers who keep writing oppression,2   to turn aside the needy from justice    and to rob the poor of my people of their right,  that widows may be their spoil,    and that they may make the fatherless their prey!3   What will you do on the day of punishment,    in the ruin that will come from afar?  To whom will you flee for help,    and where will you leave your wealth?4   Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners    or fall among the slain.  For all this his anger has not turned away,    and his hand is stretched out still. Judgment on Arrogant Assyria 5   Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger;    the staff in their hands is my fury!6   Against a godless nation I send him,    and against the people of my wrath I command him,  to take spoil and seize plunder,    and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.7   But he does not so intend,    and his heart does not so think;  but it is in his heart to destroy,    and to cut off nations not a few;8   for he says:  “Are not my commanders all kings?9   Is not Calno like Carchemish?    Is not Hamath like Arpad?    Is not Samaria like Damascus?10   As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols,    whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,11   shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols    as I have done to Samaria and her images?” 12 When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he1 will punish the speech2 of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. 13 For he says:   “By the strength of my hand I have done it,    and by my wisdom, for I have understanding;  I remove the boundaries of peoples,    and plunder their treasures;    like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.14   My hand has found like a nest    the wealth of the peoples;  and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken,    so I have gathered all the earth;  and there was none that moved a wing    or opened the mouth or chirped.” 15   Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it,    or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it?  As if a rod should wield him who lifts it,    or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!16   Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts    will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors,  and under his glory a burning will be kindled,    like the burning of fire.17   The light of Israel will become a fire,    and his Holy One a flame,  and it will burn and devour    his thorns and briers in one day.18   The glory of his forest and of his fruitful land    the LORD will destroy, both soul and body,    and it will be as when a sick man wastes away.19   The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few    that a child can write them down. The Remnant of Israel Will Return 20 In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth. 24 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. 25 For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. 26 And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. 27 And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”3 28   He has come to Aiath;  he has passed through Migron;    at Michmash he stores his baggage;29   they have crossed over the pass;    at Geba they lodge for the night;  Ramah trembles;    Gibeah of Saul has fled.30   Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim!    Give attention, O Laishah!    O poor Anathoth!31   Madmenah is in flight;    the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.32   This very day he will halt at Nob;    he will shake his fist    at the mount of the daughter of Zion,    the hill of Jerusalem. 33   Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts    will lop the boughs with terrifying power;  the great in height will be hewn down,    and the lofty will be brought low.34   He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe,    and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One. The Righteous Reign of the Branch 11   There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2   And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,    the Spirit of counsel and might,    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.3   And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.  He shall not judge by what his eyes see,    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,4   but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;  and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.5   Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,    and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 6   The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,    and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,  and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;    and a little child shall lead them.7   The cow and the bear shall graze;    their young shall lie down together;    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8   The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,    and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.9   They shall not hurt or destroy    in all my holy mountain;  for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD    as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush,4 from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. 12   He will raise a signal for the nations    and will assemble the banished of Israel,  and gather the dispersed of Judah    from the four corners of the earth.13   The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,    and those who harass Judah shall be cut off;  Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,    and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.14   But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west,    and together they shall plunder the people of the east.  They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab,    and the Ammonites shall obey them.15   And the LORD will utterly destroy5    the tongue of the Sea of Egypt,  and will wave his hand over the River6    with his scorching breath,7  and strike it into seven channels,    and he will lead people across in sandals.16   And there will be a highway from Assyria    for the remnant that remains of his people,  as there was for Israel    when they came up from the land of Egypt. The Lord Is My Strength and My Song 12   You8 will say in that day:  “I will give thanks to you, O LORD,    for though you were angry with me,  your anger turned away,    that you might comfort me. 2   “Behold, God is my salvation;    I will trust, and will not be afraid;  for the LORD GOD9 is my strength and my song,    and he has become my salvation.” 3 With joy you10 will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day:   “Give thanks to the LORD,    call upon his name,  make known his deeds among the peoples,    proclaim that his name is exalted. 5   “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;    let this be made known11 in all the earth.6   Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,    for great in your12 midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Footnotes [1] 10:12 Hebrew I [2] 10:12 Hebrew fruit [3] 10:27 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 11:11 Probably Nubia [5] 11:15 Hebrew devote to destruction [6] 11:15 That is, the Euphrates [7] 11:15 Or wind [8] 12:1 The Hebrew for you is singular in verse 1 [9] 12:2 Hebrew for Yah, the Lord [10] 12:3 The Hebrew for you is plural in verses 3, 4 [11] 12:5 Or this is made known [12] 12:6 The Hebrew for your in verse 6 is singular, referring to the inhabitant of Zion (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 85 Psalm 85 (Listen) Revive Us Again To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 85   LORD, you were favorable to your land;    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2   You forgave the iniquity of your people;    you covered all their sin. Selah3   You withdrew all your wrath;    you turned from your hot anger. 4   Restore us again, O God of our salvation,    and put away your indignation toward us!5   Will you be angry with us forever?    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?6   Will you not revive us again,    that your people may rejoice in you?7   Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,    and grant us your salvation. 8   Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;    but let them not turn back to folly.9   Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,    that glory may dwell in our land. 10   Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;    righteousness and peace kiss each other.11   Faithfulness springs up from the ground,    and righteousness looks down from the sky.12   Yes, the LORD will give what is good,    and our land will yield its increase.13   Righteousness will go before him    and make his footsteps a way. (ESV) New Testament: Acts 8 Acts 8 (Listen) Saul Ravages the Church 8 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city1 of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city. Simon the Magician Believes 9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles2 performed, he was amazed. 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall3 of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” 25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south4 to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:  &nb